CHAPTER FOUR

Yes, Or No?

Lilly's Point of View

"What?" I yelled. "How can you quit being Hannah Montana? Are you crazy?"

"The song's good though," Oliver commented.

I hit in the head. "Oliver!"

"What?" he asked. "It's true!"

"Yeah, but that song is about Miley quitting her life as a rock star!" I said.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, and we came over to Miley's house to see how she's doing. She told us that she's written this song, Under Disguise. Then she said that she wanted to quit being Hannah Montana.

"Where's Jake, anyway?" Oliver asked.

Miley groaned. "Oh, don't remind me..."

"Okay, okay!" Oliver held his hands up, as if he's being arrested. "I just wanted to know where Ja..." He stopped and corrected himself. "Where He Who Must Not Be Named is."

"He's upstairs," Miley replied. "Probably rehearsing for some episode of Zombie High."

"You don't know what he's up to?" I asked. "Why, haven't you been talking to him?"

"No, not in days," Miley said.

"Are you sure you're quitting?" I asked her.

"I don't know yet. But my heart and my mind are agreeing, and they're saying yes." Miley can be a drama queen sometimes.

"I hope we can change your mind somehow..." I gave her a hug.

"I hope so, too. I don't want to let anyone down." Miley hugged back. "Just give me a few days."

"Okay, Miles, but we've got to go," I said.

"We do?" Oliver asked.

I elbowed him. "Yes, we do. But promise me you'll think this over, okay?"

Miley nodded, and never replied.

I took Oliver's hand and pulled him outside.

ooHMoo

I didn't let go until we were at the beach, staring at the sea.

"What was that about?" Oliver asked me.

"I think we should give Miley a break and some time for herself," I explained. "She needs it."

"That doesn't mean we need time for ourselves, either," Oliver said.

I shrugged, and looked out to the sea. The sun was setting, and everything seemed perfect. Romantic. But I didn't feel that way about Oliver...did I? I sighed. "I haven't seen anything so beautiful," I said, meaning the sea with the sunset, and all.

"Neither have I," Oliver replied slowly.

I turned to look at him. He was staring at me, and it didn't seem like he was going to blink. It didn't even seem like he wanted to. "But, you're not even looking at the sea, or anywhere else. You're looking right at me."

Oliver looked down. "I...I know."

I looked down in an instant, trying to stop my cheeks from turning red. I was unsuccessful. I looked up at Oliver. He was looking back. His hand slowly flew to my face, and he leaned closer. I leaned closer myself. Then, before I even knew it, our lips touched.

It then hit me. I'm kissing Oliver, I thought, wrapping my arms around his neck. I'm kissing my best friend.

I found out then that Oliver was such a great kisser. His hand remained on my face, while the other was slowly stroking my hair.

There weren't even words when we both pulled away, and we can't even looking into each other's eyes for more than half a second. I sighed deeply and lied down on the fine white sand. Oliver sat still, hands to his lips, as if analyzing everything. I just closed my eyes, the sound of waves crashing ringing in my ears. When I opened my eyes again, Oliver was lying down beside me. "Does that mean you think I'm beautiful?" I asked him quietly.

He started to answer, but then our eyes met. I looked away in an instant. "Well...uh...I...you see..." Oliver stammered. I looked at him again. He bit his lip.

"Well?" I prodded.

"I don't know," Oliver answered, after what you can call a moment of awkward silence.

"But you just said-" I began to yell, but I just sighed, rolled my eyes and gave up. I wouldn't want to have an argument with my best friend after kissing him.

You know, I have a thing for roller coasters. I love riding 'em. But I think the biggest, wildest roller coaster ride I've ever been on is that thing we call life.

Yeah, I don't get it, either.

"I have to get going," I said.

I began to stand up, but Oliver pulled at my wrist. "Wait," he told me.

"What?" I asked.

"Maybe," Oliver said.

"Maybe what?" I was getting annoyed.

"Maybe it does mean that I think you're beautiful," Oliver replied.

I just looked at him for the longest time. Finally, I took his hand, squeezed it and stood up. "Maybe you do." I left him.

I went back to Miley's house, but I stopped by my own to get a pint of Ben and Jerry's. I love their cookie dough ice cream. Somehow, with Miley in love with her supposed-to-be "brother" and me in love with best friend, I think we'll be able to relate to each other.

Wait, did I just say that I'm in love with Oliver, my best friend? Am I really in love with him?

"Yes," Miley said emotionlessly when I asked her this question.

I swallowed a spoonful of ice cream. "You really think so?"

Miley nodded. "Yeah. And I think you have enough chemistry. You look good together."

"But he's my best friend," I reasoned.

"At least he's just your best friend," Miley told me. "What about me? I'm in love with someone who's supposed to be my relative. Not by blood, but by what the papers say. It's legal and normal to be in love with your best friend. But with your brother? Nope, not even in Not Another Teen Movie."

"I've watched that. The girl there wants to have sex with her brother, right?" I said, shuddering. It was totally gross.

"Yeah, but of course I don't want to have sex with Jake!" Miley said. "Maybe when we're older..."

I shoved her hard. "Miley!"

"What?" Miley laughed, one of her few genuine ones. "I was joking!" She took in a spoonful of ice cream.

I turned serious. "Will you really quit being Hannah?"

Miley tried to change the subject. "You should confess to Oliver, you know. Let him know how you feel."

"Don't change the subject. Come on, lots of people are counting on you. You're their inspiration. You can't let them down now," I said.

"I don't know yet," Miley said.

We pretty much avoided talking about the Hannah thing and went back to talking about Oliver and Jake.

As weird as it sounds, it was actually pretty comforting. Even for Miley.

(A/N: I'm so, so sorry for not updating! It was exam week, so I was busy studying and cramming for projects and tests. Anyway, to make up for it, I'll post two chapters each for my stories. But make sure you give reviews for both chapters! I hope you guys don't hate me. Please don't. I promise to update regularly from now on. Oh, and for the Christmas special, I'll post it the day before Christmas. Season's greetings, everyone!)